Hog, pig inventory lowest since 2007

WASHINGTON — As of June 1, there were 62.1 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, the lowest inventory since 2007, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published June 27 by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Other key findings in the report were:

Of the 62.1 million hogs and pigs, 56.3 million were market hogs, while 5.85 million were kept for breeding.

Between March and May 2014, 27.4 million pigs were weaned on U.S. farms, down 5 percent from the same time period in 2013.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.89 million sows farrow between June and August 2014, and 2.88 million sows farrow between September and November 2014.

From March through May 2014, U.S. hog and pig producers weaned an average of 9.78 pigs per litter.

With 19.2 million head, Iowa hog producers had the largest inventory among the states. Minnesota and North Carolina had the second and third largest inventories with 7.8 million and 7.7 million head respectively.

While the national hogs and pigs inventory decreased since June 2013, growers in Texas, South Dakota and Michigan increased the number of hogs and pigs in their states.

NASS surveyed more than 7,800 operators across the nation during the first half of June.